Type-writing machine.



PATENTEID JULY 21 1968.

WOODWARD.

TYPE WRIYCING MACHINE.

APPLIGATI01FILEDMAR.22,1907.

'iNVENTUFL TURNER H15 AT W.

PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

No. www

v Q. WOODWABD. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED MAE.22.1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INNENT \NFTNEESEE:

UNITED STAKES PATENT orrrcE.

OSCAR WOODWARD, or new YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO Yos'r WRITING MACHINE COMPANY,

i or ILION, NEW roan, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

]?atented July 21, 1908.

Ap -mangled March 22, 1907. Serial No. 363,819.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that l, OSCeR VVQODWARD, citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of ltianhattan-,cityof New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Type-Writing ltIachines,--

lleretofore great diiliculty hlas been 0111 countered in providing eflicient fractional line spacing mechanism. it must be understood, in order to appreciate some of these difficulties, that the very finest adjustment 'is required between the line spacing Wheel and the platen and that there must be absolutely no accidental displacement of the parts from this adjustment when ohce effected, as a thousandth of an inch displacement of a character out of a .line of-writing is quite perceptible in the printed matter. In devices where difierential gearing was employed between the. line spacing wheel and laten, there was almost invariably a bee lash or lost motion in the gear conagain when frictional means "were employed to connectthe line spacing wheel and platen,

considerable power, say thirteen pounds in some devices, was necessary to maintain the difficult for the operator to actuate. with this power the friction devices were unreliable as the line spacing wheel was often accidentally displaced relatively to the laten when the line spacing lever was vie.-

ently actuated, and the line spacing move-v nections which affected the results. Then connection and this power must be over; come In rcleasmgthedevice, render ng 1t"- Even have teeth of considerable size in order to bring about an effective interlocking engagement between the parts and a relative adjustment between the line spacing wheel and laten, and a fractional spacing of the platen :or a distance less than the distance betiveen two teeth of the engaging members cannot be effected and the usefulness of the device is restricted. The types will strike on predetermined fixed lines on the platen instead of using the entire surface of the platen. In any such constructions heretofore devised, the teeth of the engaging members restricted the. adjustment or fractional spacing of the platen. Furthermore, in this class of devices the platen was often accidentally displaced from its adjusted osition while an engagement was being ei'ected and often the displacement occurred without the operators knowledge. Thus, if the platenha pens to be adjusted to a point where t t crowns of the teeth on both engaging meme,

bers come into contact during engagement of the parts, then the locking of the parts 5 ll together will cause the platen to rotate until the teeth are brought into proper interlocking mesh and however slight the movement of the platen, it is sufiicient to. throw the work out of alinement and to render the written matter uneven and 1m.- satisfactory. i

From the foregoing it will be understood that in prior devices where positive or inter locking means were employed to connect the line spacing wheel and platen, the platen could not be adjusted to any point relatively to the line spacing wheel and connected to the wheel at the point of adjustment.

The object of my present invention is to overcome the above and other defects that have been encountered heretofore in fractional line spacing mechanism and to provide l a fractional line spacing device which will be efficient in operation under all conditions of its use.

My invention is in the nature of an improvement on the structure disclosed in the application of Arthur W. Smith "filed October right angles to that shown in Fig. 1.

the features of construction, arrangements of parts and combinations of devices to be hereinafter described and explained.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the various views, Figure 1 is a detail, central, longitudinal, sectional view of a platen and line spacing wheel showing my invention appliedthereto. Fig. 2 is a like view of the same with parts broken away, the section being taken on a plane at Fi 3 is a detail front elevation looking towards the line spacing wheel and with the finger wheel sectioned away. Fig. 4 is a detail erspective view of a member to be hereina ter more fully described. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of one of the locking members. 1* ig. 6 is a like view of another of said loekin members. Fig. 7 is a detailcentral sectiona view of the cap or member secured to the right-hand end of the platen head. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the line spacin wheel. Fig. 9 is a detail transverse sectiona view showing the locking members, the section being taken on the line aca: of Fig. 10 and looking in the direction of the arrow at said line. Fi 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectiona view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but with the arts shown in the disengaged positions. igs. 11 and 12 are views similar to Fi s. 9 and 10 respectively but showing a difi erent adjustment of the parts. Fig. 13 isa detail pers ective view of the platen head 'at the rig t-hand end of the platen. I Figs. 14 and 15 are detail longitudinal sectional views of one of the clutch carrying members and certain of the associated parts of the clutch mechanism. Figs. 16 and 17 are views in plan and side elevation respectively of some of the parts shown in Figs. 14 and 15. I

The cylindrical platen 1 may be of any desired construction. The one shown is similar to that ordinarily em loyed in the Yost machine. It is preferab y provided at the left'hand end with a platen head 2 which is secured to a hollow woo den core 3 of thb platen by headed wood screws 4 which project through openings in the platen head and the stems of which take into the left-hand end of the core. An outwardly projecting sleeve 5 on the platen head 2 receives a s indle 6 which projects from a finger whee 7', the. spindle being connected to the pl ten head by a threaded ccnnection S and a hat screw 9. The stem of a headed bolt 10 151%- jccts through a central openiilg in the platen wheel 18.

outer end of the platen part 14 of a size to fit snugly in the hollow core 3 and also has a flange 15 which lies against the right-hand end of the core against which it is firmly held by the rod 10. Pins or lugs 16 project from the cylindrical portion'14 of the platen head into holes in the end of the laten core and prevent a relative rotation o the platen and platen head. The sheath or outer'covering of the platen projects beyond the right-hand end of the core 3 and a metallic rihg 17 is seated within said pro'ecting sheath and constitutes a bearing or the flange 15 of the right-hand platen head, as shown in Fig. 2. This ring 17 is fixed to the platen and bears atits inner edge against the right-hand end of the core 3 and the outer edge of the rin constitutes a bearing for the inner side of t 10 line spacing The line spacing wheel is in the nature of a ring such as that shown in Fig. 8 and the inner surface 19 thereof is received on a peripheral bearing edge 20 of a member 2 1 (shownin detail in Fig. 7) which is secured to the platen head by screws 22 (see Fig. 2), the stems of which pass throu h openings 23 in the flange-like portion of t e member 21 and are received in tap ed openings in the liead; A circumferential flange 24 is formed on the member 19 and constitutes a shoulder against which the outer side of the line spacing wheel 18 is adapted to bear, the member 21 thus constituting a bearing for the line spacing wheel to rotate upon and prevent a movement of the line spacin wheel-longitudinally of the platen in one irection-whereas the rin 17 constitutes a bearing that prevents the 'ne spacing wheel from moving longitudinally of t eplaten in the opposite direction. The cap or member 21 being rigidly secured to the platen head by the screws 22 connects the parts and maintains the line spacing wheel in place on the platen head, though it allows the wheel to rotate thereon. The member21 has a sleeve-like portion 25 which istapped at 26 to receive a sen v 27, the inner end of which is received in a hole in a hollow stem 28 seated at one end in the sleeve '22 so that the stem 28 is connected to the platen head to rotate therewith. The uterend of the hollow stem 28 is provided with a finger wheel 29 rigidly connected therewith.

' 1A plunger 30 .is received within the hollow stem 28 and is adapted to move'longitudinally, therein and the inner end of the lunger is rovided with a stop pin 31 whic extendson op osite sides of the plunger and is adapted to hear against the inner end of the hollow stem and prevent-an endwise withdrawal of the plunger. .The outer end of the lunger is provided with a finger piece or utton 32 by which the plunger may be pushed inward. The line spacing wheel 'is provided with a series of circularly arranged;v crown teeth 33 which extend fromthedijge 16 and 17) that is loosely mounted in the tubular ,Said "member 34 has radial member 35 in both directions.

spacing wheel towards the opposite end of e platen into the annular space inclosed by the ring 17. The tips or crowns of these teeth are preferably beveled, whereas the sides or body portions of the teeth are substantially parallel. The notches between the teeth are adapted to receive a clutch tooth 34 projecting from a clutch member 35 shown in detail in Fig. 5. Said member has a semi-circular art 36 that fits loosely over a semi-cylindrical part 37 of a carrier (Figs.

portion 12 of the right-hand platen head. he left-hand end part 39 of the carrie-r cylindrical and fits in the tube 12 with freedom to move longitudinally in said tube and this part of said carrier is recessed at 40 (Figs. 14 and 15) to receive a coiled expansion, spring 41 which is adapted to bear at one end against the botton'r wall of the recess 40 in theearrier and depress the carrier toward the right. The right-hand end 37 of the carrier isfas heretofore .stated, semicylindrical and its end engages the inner end of the plunger 30 so that when the plunger or spindle is pressed inward the carrier is moved toward the left against the tension of the spring-'41.

The right-hand platen head 13 has a transverse slot 42 formed therein, which slot is cut through the flange 15 to the cylindrical portion 14 and back a short distance into the tu.- bular portion 12, the walls 43 and 44 (Fig. 13) of the slot being plane parallel surfaces, each parallel to the axis. of the platen. The semicylindrical part 36 of the member 35 fits loosely' over thesemi-cylindrical. part 37 of the carrier 38 and inside of the tubular'extension 12 so that the said member has both a longitudinal and -a turnin movement. y projecting therefrom on opposite sides of the axis of the platen two wings 45 and 46 (see Figs. 5 and 16) and the tootli 34 is in the nature ofian extension of one of these wings 46. The wings project into the slot 42, the walls of which limit the turning movement of the As shown at 47 in Fig. 10 the core 3 of the platen is cut away to admit the tooth 34. The wings 4546 are each beveled at one side to form wedge surfaces 46*, 45 respectively (see Fig. 5). The motion of the member 35 l0ngitudinall y of the platen is derived from the carrier 38. The semi-cylindrical part 36 ofthe 'mem ber 35 has formed in its right-hand edge 43 and is adapted to be a V-shaped notch engaged by a pin 49 projecting radially from the, carrier 38 near the right-hand end thereof when said carrier is moved. inward by the spindle 30.- When said pin engages said notch it serves to swing the member 35 on its carrier. right to notches Said member is moved toward the press the" tooth 34 into one of the between the teeth 33 of the line spacthe member 59 and the carrier shown in Fig. 1, 2

ing wheel byspring pressure. Thus upon reference to Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17 it wil be seen that a sleeve 50 surrounds the carrier 38 at the cylindrical portion 39 thereof. This sleeve is provided with a semi-cylindrical extension 51 which projects towards the right and is adapted to engage at its edge with the inner edge of the member 35. A coiled ex pansionspring 52 surrounds the cylindrical portion 39 of the carrier and hears at one end against a circumferential flange 53 at one end of the carrier and bears at, its opposite end against the inner end of the cylindrical follower or member 50, so that the pressure of the spring 52 is exerted through the l'ollower 5051 against the member 35 to move it to the right. In order to guide the follower 5051 in its longitudinal movement on the carrier and to prevent a turning movement of the follower on the carrier the l'ollower may be slotted as indicated at 54 in Fig. 16 to receive a guide pin 55 which projects from the semi-cylindrical portion 37 of the carrier so that the follower 5()-51 is free to move longitudinally on the carrier but is lined against rotation independently thereof. It will be observed that the )ins 49 and 55 are formed as the free ends 0 headed screws which, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, are received. in tapped openings in the carrier The flattened portion 56 of the semi-circular part 37 of the carrier has a tapped opening therein for cooperation with a headed screw 57 (see Fig. 14 having a shouldered. portion 53 that constitutes a pivot for a looking or. clutch member 59, shown in detail in Fig. 6. The pivot for this locking member extends at right angles to the axis of the platen as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the ends of the locking member extend on opposite sides of it's pivotal center and on opposite sides of the axis of the platen and are turned inwardly at right angles to the body portion thereof, indicated at 60. The edge of each inwardly bent end is beveled or formed with a wedgelike surface 61, 62 and these beveled surfaces are adapted to cooperate with the beveled faces 46 and 45 respectively on the locking member 35. From an. inspection of Figs. 9 and 11 it will be seen that the outer llattened face 63 of the locking member 59 cooperates with the wall 44 of the cut-out 42 in the right-hand laten head. The locking member 59, it will also be observed, is adapted to partake of the bodily movement-of its carrier 38 longitudinally of the platen and is likewise adapted to receive an independent turningmovement on its pivot 57, the surface 63 sliding a ainst the surface 44. The engagement of t ese twosurfaces prevents 38 from turning in the tube or tubular extension 12.

n the normal disposition of the parts and 12, the linejsp'acing wheel is positively locked to rotate with the platen. 'Figsi'd, 9 and 10'sh0w the osition In this position of the parts the pin 49 stands the" parts" assume if one of the note 'es'between the teeth 33 of the line s acing wheel happens to be positioned centraily of the slot 42, while Figs. 11 and 12 show the position they assume if the notch happens to be to one side of the center of the slot 42. In either case in the normal position of the parts the carrier 38 and the clutch member 35 are both in their extreme right-hand positions, the tooth 34 being seated in the notch between two of the teeth 33 so that the looking member 35 is positively locked to the line spacin wheel. The locking member 59 has its we ge surfaces 61 and 62 depressed into engagement with the wedge surfaces 46 and respectively of the clutch member 35 by the spring 41. Said member 59 is thus wedged in between said member 35 on the one end and the flattened face 44 of the slot 42 on the other, thus pressing the semicircular part 36 of the member 39 against the opposite side of the tube 12. The wed e 61 engaging the wedge 46 prevents the platen from turning toward the back of the machine and the wedge 62 engaging the wedge 45 prevents rotation of the platen in the opposite direction. The platen head is thus positively locked to the member 35 which in turn is positivel locked to the line spacing wheel.

some little distance to the right of the notch 48 in the member 35. Should the operator desire to release the platen from the line spacing wheel in order to. effect a fractional line spacing movement of. the platen, it is merely necessary to press the finger piece 32 to the left, thus moving the carrier 38 in a like direction. I

The eflect of the initial operation of the movement' of the carrier 38 is to carry the locking member 59 out of interlocking and wedging engagement with the cooperating locking member 35. While this release is being effected -.the spring 52 expands and holds the locking member 59 at the right-' hand limit of its movement with the tooth 34 thereon engaged between two teeth 33 on the line spacing wheel. This engagement between the tooth 34 and the teeth on the line spacing wheel continues until the carrier 38 has moved far enough to entirely disengage or .throw the wedging or locking device 59 out of cooperation with the engaging it and the parts will be move d to the disen-v gaged position'shown in Fig. 10 with the tooth 34 out of engagement with the line s acing wheel. The lockingmember, 59 at t iis time will be disengaged from the mem-- ed relatively to'the wheel. v

seam

ing thenotch 48 has centered the member 39 ber35. In this movement the pin 49 engagso that its wings 45 and46 are central of the slot 42 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The;

platen may then be rotated to an desired extent by either of its finger whee rst part of the movements of the parts 7 or 29 nfideipendently of the line spacing wheel. In t e back to normal position the carrier 38 and the locking members 35 and 59 carried there' by travel in unison until the tooth 34 engages between teeth on the line spacing wheel. In this movement the member 35 is freed from the locking member 59 so that it is free to turn. The beveled tooth 34 therefore is guided by the beveled te'eth 33 and readily enters the notch between them, turningthem slightly one wa or the-other, if neeessa When the toot 34 is firmly seated int c that the tension of the which is carried thereby and will force the inclined wedges 6 1 and 62 thereof into a wedging engagement with the inclined faces 46 and 45 respectively on the locking mem-"- ber 35 and when the parts are in effected wedging and interlocking engagement the carrier will be arrested from further movement and the platen will be effectively and positively locked to the line spacing wheel at the exactpoint where the platen was adjust- During the engaging movement of the locking member 35 hereinbefore described the tooth 34 thereof is brought into engagement with t le'teeth 33 on the line s acing wheel and the locking member 35 is platen. If during the engagement of these parts the beveled crown of the tooth 34 should meet the beveled crown of a tooth 33 on the line spacing wheel the locking meniber-35 will be turned on its bearing arohmd the axis of the platen until the tooth 34 finds its plrolper position between two of the teeth of t e ine spacing wheel, as shown in Fig. 8;

ea to: receive .a limited turning movement on its" bearings and around the axial center of the it being understood that the line spacingv wheel is at this time maintained against aocidental dis lace'ment by a. spring roller detent 64 (I' ig.3). After the tooth 34 has been properly centered and has its parallel sides received between the' arallel sides of two adjacent teeth 33- of t e line spacing wheel and has reached the limit of its engag ing movement, then the movementof the carrier 38 will, as heretofore pointed out, be

bodily movement of the locking member 59- with the carrier one or the other of the inclined faces 61, 62 will be brought into engagement with. its cooperating. inclined face 46 or 45 before the other, and a further bodily movement of the locking member 59 with its carrier effects a turning of the looking member 59 on its pivot so as to automatically swing the member 59 to a position where both of its wedge faces 61, 62 are in engagement with the corresponding faces 46 and 4.5 respectively, so that it will properly cooperate with the locking member in the angular position it has assumed during the engagement of this member of the line spacing wheel. In Figs; 1, 9 and 10 of the drawings I have illustrated the locking member 35 being centered within the opening 42 of the platen head, and in these circumstances the locking member 59 will move to its locking position as shown in Fig. 1 with out turning on its pivotal center, both. engag ing surfaces 61, 62 on the locking member 59 simultaneously engaging their respective cooperating wedge faces and 45 on-the locking member 35. But in Figs. jil and 12 said member 35 is displaced and the member "59 is correspondingly inclined.

From the foregoing it Will be understood that the single tooth 34 is employed to interlock with and'engage the large teeth 33 on the line' spacing wheel and that during this engagement the locking member may receive auton'iatically a rotation around the longitudinal axis of the platen, and that during the engagement of the locking member 59 with the wedge surfaces on the locking member 35, said locking member 59 rnay\auto-' niatically turn on its pivot to eil'ect an adjustment otthe locking member 59 and thus the parts automatically regixlate themselves or compensate for any shifting of the parts which may be eiiected. by the engagement between the locking n'ioinher 35 and the line spacing wheel, and none oil the shit ing thus automatically effected displaces the platen relatively to the line space wheel so that the platen may be positively secured to the line space wheel at any point in the adjustment oi the former relatively to the latter.

What I claim as new and desire to secure 'by Letters Patent, is.:-

1. In a typcwriting machine, the combination of a line spacing wheel, a platen that is adapted to be turned relatively to said wheel, and ,discngagcable interlocking means for positively connecting the platen and line spacing whcel at any point in the relative adjustment between the two, said means com i prising two .clutch members, a carrier, and a spring-pressed sliding follower surrounding said carrier and bearing against one of said members,

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a line spacing wheel, a platen. that is adapted to be turned relatively tosaid wheel, and disengageable interlocking means for positively connecting the platen and line spacing wheel at any point in the relative ad.'

1ustment between the two, said means comprlsing two dlsengageable clutch. members, a carrier for one of said clutch members, a

spring surrounding saidcarrier and bearingagainst it at one end and, operative on the clutch member eo-acting with the carrier.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a line spacing wheel, a platen that is adapted to be turned relatively to said wheel, and disengagcableinterlocking means for positively connecting the platen and line spacing wheel at any point int-he relative adjustment between the two, said means comprising two clutch members, a carrier, a sleeve like follower which su-rrounds said carrier arid bears at one end aga'instone of said clutch members, and a coiled. expansion spring which surrounds said carrier and bears at one end against the carrier and. at the 0pposite end against the follower.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a line spacing wheel, aplaten that is adapted to be turned relatively to said wheel,

and disengageable interlocking means for positively connecting the platen and line spacing wheel at any point in the relative ad: Justment between the two, saidmeans comprising two clutch members, a tubular bear mg connectedwith theplaten, a carrier for one of sald membersythe carrier being received 111 said bearing, asleeve-hke tollower which surrounds and is guided in its movement on said carrier and bears at one end against one of said clutch 'inemhcrs, anda spring that surrounds said carrier and bears at one end against saidfollower and bears at its opposite end against the carrier.

5. lnia typewriting niiachine, the combination oi a line spacing wheel, a platen that is adapted to be turned relatively to said wheel, and disengageable interlocking means for positii' el'yconnecting the platen and line spacing wheel at any point in the relatiye adjust nejnt between the two, said mean com.- prising two :clutch members, a tubular bearmg connected with the latcn, a carrier for one of said members,.t1e' carrier being re ceived in said bearing, a sleeve-like follower which surrounds and is guided in its movenient on said carrier and bears atone e'nd against one of said clutch members, the follower being received within said tubular bearing, and a spring contained between the tubular bearing and said carrier and bearing at. one end against the carrier and at the other end a ainst the follower.

6. n a t pewriting machine, the combination of a me spacing wheel, a platen that is adapted to be turned relatively to said wheel, and disengageable interlocking means for positively connecting the platen and line spacing wheel at any point in the relative adspring-pressed sliding follower surroundim said carrier and bearing against one of said members, a disconnectible cap, and a second spring interposed between saidcap and carrier.

7. In a typewritihg machine, the combination of a line spacing wheel, a platen that is adapted to be turned relatively to said wheel, and disengageable interlocking means for positively connecting the platen and line spacing wheel at any point in the relative adjustment between the two, said means comprising two clutch members, a carrier, a spring-pressed sliding follower surroundin said carrier and bearing against one of sai members, a platen head having a tubular extension which forms a bearing for said carrier, a cup-like cap which surrounds the .tubular extension at one end thereof, a connecting rod detachably connected to said cap, anda second spring interposed between said carrier and ca 8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a line spacing wheel, a platen that is adapted to be turned relatively to said wheel, and disengageablc interlocking means for positively connecting the platen and line spacing wheel at any point in the relative adjustment between the two, said means com prising two disengageable' clutch members, a carrier for one of said clutch members, a spring surrounding saidcarrier and bearing against it at one end and 0 erative on the c utch member eo-acting wit the carrier, a

. platen head having an extension with a tubuar bearin thereinand in is receive a cup-hke cap which surrounds which said carrier the end of the extension, a second spring interposed between said cap and carrier, a connecting rod threaded at one end for cooperationwith a tap ed opening in said ca and a second laten ead with which sai rod is detachably connected at the other end.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a line spacing wheel a platen that is adapted to be turned relatively to said laten, and disengageable interlocking means or positively connecting the platen and line spacing wheel at any point in the relative ad justment between the two, said means comprising two disengageable clutch members, a

carrier for one of said clutch members, a

spring surrounding said carrier and bearing agamst 1t at one end and o erative on the clutch member co-acting with the carrier,

two platen heads one having a tubular bearing in which said carrier is received, a cap at one end of the tubular bearing, a second spring between sald cap and carrier, a finder recess adjacent to a tapCped' openin in the cap, and a connecting ro between t e other platen head and said cap, said rod having a threaded end guided to said guide opening in the ca by said finder recess.

10. n a typewriting machine, the combi-j nation of a line spacing wheel, a platen that is adapted to be turned relatively to said wheel, and disengageable interlocking means for positively connecting the platen and line spacing wheel at any point in the relative adjustment'between the two, said means comprising a laten head having a bearing there- 1n, two 0 utch members, a-carrier for one of said clutch members, a follower, a spring between said follower and carrier, a pocket or recess in said carrier, and a second coiled expansion spring in said recess and hearing at one,end against the bottom of said pocket and at its opposite end against said bearing or a part carried thereby.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, in the count of New York, and State of New York, t is 19th day of March, A. D. 1907.

' OSCAR VVOODWA'RD.

Witnesses: 

